Re: PROBLEM: dma timeout errors on reads and large writes (sata_vsc on kernel 2.6.9)

[Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com>]

Atul Bhouraskar wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am building a linux-2.6.9 system with 4 250G SATA drives (using the
> intel GD31244 controller).
> I have compiled a monolithic kernel with Vitesse vsc SATA support, ACPI
> and APM have been turned off (see config at end of message).
> The kernel boots up properly and detects all drives correctly (see dmesg
> below).
> I can partition and initialize the drives without any problem (using
> cfdisk and mke2fs).
> I can read and write small files (<100MB) without any problem too.
> 
> But when I try to use any of the drives with large files (more than a
> couple of GB), the process invariably hangs with the kernel spewing out
> ATA timeout and other errors (see log below). It usually needs a write
> of more than 5-6GB before it happens, but it usually occurs at around
> 50-100MB while reading. It is not possible to kill the hung process,
> though the rest of the system continues to be responsive. Any further
> access (even an 'ls') on *any* of the SATA drives usually instantly
> meets with the same fate.
> 
> It can be reproduced in the following way:

I got a similar report via my employer as well.  I don't think anybody 
has really tested sata_vsc on the Intel controller, just the one that 
Vitesse put out.

You don't happen to have a spare controller, do you?

	Jeff